I feel awful now, but we purchased a hermit crab (Herman-Jack) from wings at the beach for my daughter. I asked questions and the lady reassured me that all my questions were answered in the print out inside the plastic carrier, along with the food, sponge (which she said to soak daily with tap water!), and a painted shell. I really thought it was a deal, 9.99 for everything I needed to have a cute little hermit....WRONG! I came home and did some research to find answers to a few questions that the print out didn't mention, and I came across this site. Now that I have spent 3 days researching and making several trips to the pet store, I really hope I am on my way to creating a beautiful and healthy environment for our crabs. We originally only bought one, and even told the lady at Wings this was our first Hermit. Since then I have bought another Hermit friend (Pepper) for Herman-Jack. I filled out the new owner template I found on here to see if there is something I am missing. Any advice is appreciated!!! Sorry this is so long...I hope I covered everything. Thanks!
Hight
1. Substrate used? Play sand from home-depot (I wanted Herman out of that plastic pail once I read that we needed a actual aquarium, I got a 10g, that I put the sand in right away. It wasn't until further in my research that I read that I needed to wash the sand. Do you think they will be ok for now?)
2. Humidity % level in crabitat? 85%
3. Temperature of substrate in crabitat? How do you test it?
4. Temperature of crabitat? I just got a temp reader today and will put it up in a bit
5. Location of gauges? Humidity is on the top lid so we can read it when we open it...but I think it needs to be lowered to their level now.
6. What is your heat source? None now, I have to put the temp reader up to see if I need something
7. Types of water available? HBH Hermit crab salt (mixed with bottle water) in a pool & a shell that has HBH safe soak & spray (mixed with bottled water) with a sponge in it for fresh water
8. Dechlorinator used? yes, HBH aquapure safe soak & spray
9. What do you feed? Hermit The Crab food that came with the kit. I have also don egg shells & cut up apples. Yesterday I bought a cuddlebone (I think that is what you call it)
10. How long have you had the crab in question? 3 days
11. Do you know the species? I think both of them are pp
12. Do you bath them, if so how often and with what? I haven't yet. I am still trying to decide if that is a good idea or not since it is has been debated so much on here on what is best.
13. What type of housing are they in? Tank? Plastic box? Came in a critter carrier, but since bought a 10 gallon glass aquarium with a glass lid.
14. What size is your tank? 10 gallon
15. How many crabs are in the tank? What size are they? 2, and they are small, both the same size
16. How deep is the substrate? 3-4 inches deep
17. If you take your hermies out daily to exercise, do you mist their gill area first? We haven't taken them out, I think they are distressing. Do I need to mist them daily? Or does it depend on if I bath them or not?
18. Has there been any cleaners, paints, perfumes, air fresheners, candles, or smoking near the crabitat? No
19. How often do you clean/sterilize and how? So far I have only boiled their extra shells & netting (boiled & soaked in salt water). I rinsed off the plastic plants I got at walmart and they are sitting in the sun to dry now, along with the netting
20. Any unusual odors? no, but it doesn't smell like roses in there either
21. Do you use sponges? Are they rinsed daily with dechlor water? Are they exchanged every 2 days for a sterile one? I rinse the sponge daily with tap water and then soak it again with the safe soak & spray from their fresh water shell
22. Do you feed fresh food? When do you remove it? Only boiled egg shells & apples so far. I remove their unused food daily
23. Are your hands clean before handling? Yes
24. Has there been anything new added to your crabitat recently? Everything is new, I have only had it for 3 days
New & learning, with questions!
welcome to the HCA! there are great people here who love to help others and lots of info about hermies.
the odd smell you mentioned might be the smell of the commercial food. I would advise serving more fresh foods because not only do some commercial foods smell, they also may have harmful preservatives. hermies can eat fresh fruit and veggies, unseasoned meats, unsalted nuts and much more. check out the safe food list ---->
yep, its best to move both gauges down to crab level and optimal for both is 75-80.
I use unwashed sand in my tank, and I've never had a problem. other people, however, do think that you need to. I wouldn't say its an immediate concern at this point though.
again, welcome!
Caroline
the odd smell you mentioned might be the smell of the commercial food. I would advise serving more fresh foods because not only do some commercial foods smell, they also may have harmful preservatives. hermies can eat fresh fruit and veggies, unseasoned meats, unsalted nuts and much more. check out the safe food list ---->
yep, its best to move both gauges down to crab level and optimal for both is 75-80.
I use unwashed sand in my tank, and I've never had a problem. other people, however, do think that you need to. I wouldn't say its an immediate concern at this point though.
again, welcome!
Caroline
26 LHC: 6 PPs, 5 Es, 1 Straw, 6 Ruggies, 2 Indos, 1 Blueberry, 4 Violas, 1 Aussie
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Topic author
Thank you Caroline for the quick response. I forgot to mention that I also have a coco hut, coco climbing sheet on the back of the tank, and 2 pieces of climbing wood I bought from the pet store that overlap each other (they are small pieces). Are there any commercial crab food that people recommend to use along with the fresh food from the list? Thank you again!